58 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



what the subject of the chapter will be, or rather is, for it 

 ,1 the press, " On the disappearance of the Coal 

 Strata, raised above the surface by faults." It is a universal 

 fart in all the Knglish coal-fields, that whatever disturbance 

 of the strata there may be .under the surface, whether a 

 series of strata be thrown down or raised up one hundred 

 or a thousand feet on one side of a fault, the surface on each 



\vill be on the same level ; the upreared mountain has 



me unknown cause been carried away, and has not 

 left, as Shakspeare says, a reck behind (or more correctly, 

 what Shakspeare certainly wrote, a " reek " or vapor, this 

 being still the North Country name for smoke). Where is 

 the mountain gone to ? or what monster has devoured it ? 

 The universality of the fact seems to have prevented further 



inquiry I am afraid our friend Mantell ig in a 



world of perplexity, both respecting his removal from 

 ! Jrighton, and the deposit of his museum. The leading mem- 



of the Brighton Institution now decline having any- 

 thing to do with it. I always told Mr. M. that if he could 

 get 2000 clear of all further trouble, he should take it ; he 

 has In-fore received 1000, or a gratuity from the late Lord 



nont, which would make 3000. I have seen some- 

 thing of the fate of museums ; after the first year or two 

 of their popularity they become flat and stale to the public, 

 and unprofitable to the proprietors. I hope the affair of 

 Canada will not lead to a breach of friendship between 

 I'.M-land and the Tinted States. Hut I fear the whole of 

 the rivili/.ed world is upon the eve of some great commotion. 

 There is something wrong in the state of society, and the 



me inequality of the rich and the laborers, in almost 

 part of Kurope. Hut my paper tells me to conclude, 

 with great esteem, 



Yours, very sincerely, 



R. BAKEWELL. 



